Electric furnace.



G. W. F. GORRELL.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1906.

WITNESSESL INVENTOR:

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C. W. F. GORRELL.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLIGYATION FILED APR. 7, 1906.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES:

UNITED STA' 1ES PA ENT OFFICE.

CHARLES w. F. consent, or OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, xssreuoa o ruinous RUTHED} none, F LOCKPORT, NEW YonK. ELECTRIC l p-annex.

- Patented March 30, 1909.

To ca whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. F. Gon- BELL, of Ottawa, in. the Dominion of Canada,

may be employe have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Furnaces, whereof. the ollowin is a specification, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings.

My invention rovides a furnace which to fuse by heat derived from an electric circuit, materials which are not only refractory but non-conductors of electricity at normal temperatures. Moreover, my improved furnace may be employed to reduce oxid or sulfid ores to the metallic state by liquefying a mass thereof and maintaining such mass liquid while injecting a fluid reagent therethrou h. For instance, oxygen may be eliminate from iron oxid by injecting carbon monoxid through a liquid fusion of said oxid and, similarly sulfur ma be eliminated from silver, copper and coba t ores b the injection of atmospheric air throng liquid fusions of such ores.

My invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a vertical sectional view of a furnace conveniently embodying my improvement. Fig. II, is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of electrode.

In said drawings, the furnace comprises the open topped receptacle 1, formed of refractory material, and conveniently su ported at such a distance above the floor leve 2, that the liquid metal 3, may be discharged from said receptacle by overflowing through the siphon tap 5, into molds on trucks or other convenient means for conveying away the metal. Said mass 3, may be maintained in a liquid state in said receptacle 1, by an electric current passed through it between the electrodes 8, and 9, which form terminals of an electric fusing circuit comprising the leads 11, and 12, extending to any suitable source of current. Said electrodes 8, and 9, comprise cylindrical metal casings each inclosing a chamber 14, through which water or an other suitable refri erant may be circulate being introduced t rough the pipes 15, and withdrawn through the pipes 16. I

As indicated in the drawings the pipes 15, and 16, of the respective electrodes 8, and 9, may be connected in series by the flexible tube 18, and the refrigerant conveyed to and I mg them together.

fiomthe same through the flexible tubes 20, and 21. If said electrodes are constructed as shown in Fig. II; a fluid reducing agent may be conveniently introduced to the mass 3, through the tubes 22, which are centrally located in the respective electrodes 8, and 9, and connected at their upper ends by flexible tubes 24, and 25, with any suitable source of fluid su ply; for instance, if an oxid is to be reduce said tubes 24, and 25, may be connected with a supply of carbon monoxid, and if a sulfid is to be reduced, said Lubes may be connected with a supply of compressed air. In any case, when the operation of the furnace' is to be initiated as hereinafter described, I find it preferable to have the lower end of each electrode rovided with a carbon tip 26, to minimize t e erosion of the electrodes, and to suspend the electrodes independently of each other and the furnace wall y the respective flexible connectors 28, extending from the eyes 29, over the sheaves 34. Referring to Fig. II, it may be noted that said carbon tip 26, is conveniently secured in removable relation with the electrode casing by means of the screw cap 30, a watertight joint between the tube 22, and said tip 26, being conveniently made by cement- I also find it convenient to provide the upper end of the electrode casing with the screw cap 32, in which the pipes 15, and 16, may be secured by screwthreads, a water-tight joint between the furnace above described I find it convenient to proceed as followsz-A layer of comminuted coke is placed in the bottom of the receptacle 1,- the electrodes 8, and 9, are lowered into contact therewith, and a suitable current supplied to the circuit including said electrodes, so that the layer of coke aforesaid being a conductor, is made white hot by the current between the electrodes. Said coke being thus raised to the proper temperature will fuse the oxid or sulfid which is then gradually sprinkled thereon in comminuted form until a liquid mass 3 of the same is formed around said electrodes in the receptacle 1, to which mass additional ore may be supplied continuously or intermittently and from which the reduced tap 5, as above described.

it may beobserved that the furnace above described may be em loyed to liquefy and reduce material whic would not per se, conduct the fusing current; for instance, such refractory iron oxid as the flue dust of ordinary iron furnaces, which at atmospheric temperatures is a non-conductor of .electricity, but when fused will conduct a current which will maintain it liquid.

I claim 1. An electrode comprising a metallic body having a tip of refractorymaterial; means arranged to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arranged to se arately direct a fluid through said tip, su stantially as set forth.

-2. An electrode comprising a metallic body having a tip of carbon; means arranged to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arran ed to separately direct a fluid through sair? tip, substantially as set forth.

3. An electrode comprising a metallic tubular body; a screw threaded cap on one end of said body; a tip of refractory material detachably connected with said body by said cap; means arranged to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arranged to separately direct a fluid through said tip, substantially as set forth.

4. An electrode comprising a metallic tubular body; a screw threaded cap on one end of said body; a tip of refractory material detachably connected with said body by said ca means arranged to direct a refrigerant t ough said body; and, means arranged to separately direct a fluid through said tip, comprising a cap on the opposite end of said body and pipes entering through said cap, substantially as set forth.

5. An electrode comprising a metallic body having a tip of carbon; means detachably connecting said body and tip; means arran ed to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arranged to separately direct a fluid through said tip, su stantially as set forth.

6. An electrode comprising a metallic tubular body'; a screw threaded cap on one end of said body; a tip of carbon detachably connected with said body by said cap; means arranged to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arranged to separately direct a fluid through said tip, substantially as set forth.

7. An electrode comprising a metallic tubular body; a screw threaded cap on one end of said body; a tip of carbon detachably connected with said body by said cap; means arranged to direct a refrigerant through said body; and, means arranged to separately direct a fluid through said tip, comprising a cap on the opposite end of said body and pipes entering through said cap, substantially as set forth.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at the city of Ottawa in the county of Carleton this 27th day of March 1906.

CHARLES W. F. GORRELL.

WVitnessesi IDA M. AGNEW, ANNIE M. WARNE. 

